We understand that not everyone is familiar with roofing terminology, that's why we've compiled this handy glossary below to help you.
- Asphalt Shingles
- Battens
- Chimney Flashing
- Dormer
- EPDM
- Eaves
- Fascia
- Flashing
- Gable
- Gutter / Guttering
- Hip Roof
- Lead Work
- Membrane
- Pitch
- Rafter
- Ridge
- Soffit
- Torch-on Felt
- Underlayment (Roofing Felt)
- Valley
- Ventilation (Roof)
- Verge
- Asphalt Shingles
- Flat, rectangular roofing tiles made from a base (often fibreglass) coated in asphalt and granules. More common in the US, but sometimes seen in the UK.
- Battens
- Thin strips of timber or metal fixed horizontally across rafters to support tiles or slates.
- Chimney Flashing
- Waterproofing (usually metal) installed around a chimney to prevent leaks.
- Dormer
- A roof extension containing a window that projects vertically from a sloped roof.
- EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer)
- A type of synthetic rubber membrane used on flat roofs.
- Eaves
- The roof edge that overhangs the walls, often fitted with gutters and vents.
- Fascia
- The vertical board along the edge of a roof that supports the gutter system.
- Flashing
- Waterproof material used to seal joints, especially around chimneys and valleys.
- Gable
- The triangular portion of a wall between the edges of a sloping roof.
- Gutter / Guttering
- System of channels that collect rainwater from the roof and direct it away from the building.
- Hip Roof
- A roof with slopes on all four sides, meeting at the top. Good in windy and rainy conditions.
- Lead Work
- Use of lead sheets to waterproof joints and features on a roof.
- Membrane
- A waterproof sheet applied to roofs (especially flat roofs) to prevent water ingress.
- Pitch
- The steepness or angle of a roof, which affects water drainage and tile choice.
- Rafter
- The angled beams that form the framework of a pitched roof.
- Ridge
- The top of a pitched roof, where two sloping sides meet. Often capped with ridge tiles.
- Soffit
- The underside of the roof overhang (eaves), often ventilated to improve airflow.
- Torch-on Felt
- A waterproof roofing layer made of bitumen, applied using a blowtorch.
- Underlayment (Roofing Felt)
- A protective layer installed under tiles or slates to add water resistance.
- Valley
- The internal angle formed by the intersection of two roof slopes. A key drainage area.
- Ventilation (Roof)
- Systems that allow airflow through the roof space to prevent condensation and damp.
- Verge
- The edge of the roof at the gable end, often finished with mortar or verge tiles.